Dear Sister Hoth: You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Canada Vancouver Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, February 18, 2015. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish Language.

Monday, November 16, 2015

Mon, Nov 16, 2015 The Biggest Enemy of the Best is Good.

Hey Ya'll

This week I have learned that it is absolutely impossible to talk to EVERYONE in Vancouver. I have also learned that we don't need to be using the Lord's time talking to absolutely everyone in Vancouver. What He has asked us to do is to ask Him, listen to the Spirit, and be directed to those who will receive us. I have gained such a strong testimony this week that as we include God in His work, He will guide us to those who are ready to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each time we go out finding now, I pray immediately to know who I should talk to. As I follow the promptings I receive, I have been so filled with the Spirit. The Spirit is the one who can reach the hearts of the people, all I have to do is listen to the Spirit and open my mouth. It is absolutely an honor to be a servant for the Lord.

Mike, Mike, Mike what day is it?!!

I can't believe that it is my half way mark this week (Nov 18) ...I can hardly believe it. Time has gone by so fast and I have had so many incredible experiences on my mission. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for me in these next few months! Also, I want to thank you all so much for your love and support. I would not be able to do this mission without your constant thoughts and prayers! Thank you!:)

In the words of Jon Bon Jovi:

"Whoa, we're half way thereWhoa, livin' on a prayerTake my hand and we'll make it - I swear

Whoa, livin' on a prayer !"

This week has been such a fantastic week! I have grown so much and have felt like I'm at a huge turning point in my mission! I am learning so much everyday about the Spirit and about God's work. My whole life, I have loved to be diligent! My dad always told me, "If you don't do it right, don't do it at all." Haha, that has definitely stuck with me! I have done my best to be so diligent on my mission. This week during zone meeting, I learned that sometimes in my mission I have just been sacrificing. What I mean is I chose to be obedient and sacrificed my time and things that I wanted to do for the Lord, but my heart wasn't necessarily in it. This week, I have been making sure my sacrifice is accompanied with my heart...my love for God. That way I'm not just going through the motions, but truly remembering the greater and deeper purpose behind everything that I do. A question that I have constantly been thinking about this week is, "Am I someone that God can always count on?"

During zone meeting, we listened to a choir sing Glorious. It was so powerful as we discussed how each of us truly have a part in this wonderful work and gospel. We are all children of God and have so much potential! As we discover our divine identity we will know how to let the gospel ring out of our mouths. That is a promise that the song gives. I'm so grateful for my mission because I have been so blessed by those I have met and served. They have changed my life. I have truly learned how to be myself, and be confident with myself.

Something that President has really been emphasizing is how he wants the Canada Vancouver mission to be a mission on FIRE! This is what I told President in response to his goal: "And when I was in Sidney, my second area, I learned how to be on fire. I didn't quite know in Surrey, my first area, because everything was so new and I was just learning the ropes and becoming familiar with being a missionary and the Spanish language. However, Sister Wright and I learned how to be on fire. We loved doing the work, and the only thing that would make us happy is if we worked so hard that when our heads hit our pillows we were out. Haha, well when I started training, I think my fear took over my fire...and so when I moved to Vancouver..I didn't quite have my fire. I'm not even sure if I had a desire to do the work...I just felt like I was in a dark hole. But ever since zone meeting and our district meetings this transfer, I have desired to be the BEST missionary. Not just an average missionary, but the BEST. I love what Elder Hay said at zone meeting..."the enemy to the best is good." I don't want to just be a good missionary...I want to be the best. I know I can with the help of the Lord. During the meeting, I didn't have the best feeling in the beginning. I knew it would be a call to repentance for me. But I took it, I loved it, and I am changed. I am on fire. The Spirit told me, during the meeting, that I need to change my attitude, I need to change the way I wake up, pray, exercise, eat, study, work, teach, testify....all of it I need to change. Now that may sound like a lot...but let me tell you. I have been striving to be exactly obedient my entire mission. I have been doing the best I can with all of those things that I listed...but it is NOW that I understand that my sacrifice to be exactly obedient was not accompanied with love. WHY DO I CHOOSE TO BE OBEDIENT? Why do I choose to work hard? Am I giving my all to the Lord? Am I someone the Lord can rely on? I understand now that my sacrifice, my mission, needs to be accompanied by love for God or it is empty. I am going through the motions and not allowing my natures to be changed."

So needless to say, Hermana Polanco and I are on FIRE! We have been so pumped up and filled with the Spirit! We had 2 new investigators this week! Bud and Maria Fernanda. They are miracles that we found them.

P.S. Haha, Sister Polanco and I are always laughing. She is my little chubs. Haha she just told me that she can't go to sleep at night without saying "goodnight chubs". This week...we had a little problem with Sister Polanco stealing my chocolate. During our weekly planning session, we were taking a break for lunch. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw her steal my chocolate and begin to eat all of it.Haha so I was reading in PMG about the 3 kingdoms and I said to her...woah...you're in this book. It says those who steal chocolate go to the Telestial Kingdom. You better give me back my chocolate you "little star". HAHA...we just died laughing...but I did get my chocolate back.

P.P.S. Sister Polanco just found out this week that I am her trainer. She thought that it was only her first companion. Haha...wow.